How to Get Apple to Fix Your iPhone's Broken Power Button for Free

Apple has acknowledged a problem with the sleep/wake key, better known as the power button, on a certain number of iPhone 5's manufactured through March 2013. As a result, the company has announced the iPhone 5 Sleep/Wake Button Replacement Program, which will replace the power button mechanism, free of charge, for certain iPhone 5 models.

Checking Eligibility

To check if your iPhone 5 qualifies, you can head over to the iPhone 5 Sleep/Wake Button Replacement Program page, where you can enter your phone's serial number and check for eligibility.

To find the serial number on your iPhone, simply head over to Settings -> General -> About and scroll down to Serial Number.

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Before You Go to Apple

If your phone is eligible, make sure a few things are set with your smartphone before handing it over to Apple:

• Back up your device with iTunes or iCloud
• Turn off Find my iPhone
• Go to Settings -> General -> Reset -> Erase all Content and Settings
• Remove any case or cover

Note: Your iPhone will automatically be upgraded to iOS 7.1, if you're not already running it.

Two Ways to Send It In

Since the replacements are done at the Apple Repair Center, there are two ways of sending your iPhone in for repair:

In Store

If you take it in store, you'll have to make an appointment with a participating Apple Store. Once they examine your device to verify its eligibility, they will send it to the Apple Repair Center.

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Since you'll be be without a phone for a few days, you can request for a loaner at participating Apple Retail Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers. You'll receive an iPhone 5 (16GB only), and you'll be notified once your iPhone is ready to be picked up.

Snail Mail

If you mail it in, you'll have to call Apple and request a prepaid postage box, which you can use to send your iPhone in to the local Apple Repair Center. Your device will be examined for eligibility, and once it's fixed, sent back to you via mail.

Both replacement processes take approximately four to six days from the time your iPhone is received at the repair center.

Note: If there is damage to your iPhone that might affect the replacement of the sleep/wake button, you'll have to take care of that before handing it over.

Additional Information

• Apple may restrict or limit repair to the original country of purchase.
• Your iPhone 5 must be in full working order to qualify.
• If you paid for a replacement due to this issue, you can get a refund from Apple.
• If you're jailbroken, Apple may not accept your iPhone. In the case that they do accept it, your jailbreak will be wiped away by the iOS 7.1 update.

To check out more information about this program, check out the Apple support page.